Woman's Hour 20 October: Has Mumnset become too politicised?

The "women on mumsnet FWR like research and evidence" line was a wonderful answer.

Yes, we do. We don't like to be told "that's transphobic so you can't talk about that entire topic, okay?"

In fact, if there is one thing that's going to pique the collective interest of Mumsnet Feminists, it's being instructed to NOT talk about something to do with women and girls.

Meic
Sure. Not all women have the same opinion either and it's good to know that there are many men who are aware of this debate and support women's rights.
Our common 'enemy' if you will is not men generally, it's patriarchal structures. Which are mostly upheld, however unconsciously, by men, but equally there are many women (for a variety of reasons) who are also complicit.
The problems are structural not personal. But impacts are on the person and at the individual level.

I haven't particularly seen that here Meic, mn are fully aware of the number of women who deny the debate or the need for the debate. Often younger and childless.

Posters are reacting to general patriarchal accusations along the lines of "mumsnetters should only talk about nappies" and "is mn too politicised?"

Those are scripts under patriarchy generally uttered by men. A particular group of men we frequently feel forced to discuss here are good at saying that too.

Nauticant

Sorry my auto 🤦‍♀️

Yep nautical to

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000nl76

for other people who struggle as much as I do to find the link. it's not showing yet though.

I listened to the program and wanted to give Mumsnet a vote of support. I normally just read here because as a male single parent I feel like an intruder posting here.
However that doesnt stop me from fully supporting a place where people can speak freely, even if it can be hostile to my gender as a whole.
On the subject of the gender recognition act, there is an assertion running through this thread that the suppression and censorship is being driven by men. Obviously I cant speak for all men but I think this is way off the mark. On this particular issue I think that you will find that the majority of people (including that gender which many of you see as the enemy) agree with you and especially support your right to free expression even when we dont agree.

talking about our life experience is political.

Have to say Red, Jane did say just that at the beginning of the piece.

From nic below

Why? @janegarvey1 @BBCWomansHour. Why was it necessary to interject to “make it clear that 'some people' describe women's groups such as @WomansPlaceUK and @FiLiA_charity and @fairplaywomen as transphobic'. Why promote the vilification and defamation of us?

Yes shedbuilder. That

So we shouldn't talk about how maternity is a second class service?
We shouldn't talk about how covid is hitting women hardest economically?
We shouldnt talk about how childcare limits women's life choices?
We absolutely shouldn't talk about the removal of womens rights?

Cos talking about our life experience is political.

Seriously, wtf.

Thanks for that Absinthe.
Not nit picky at all - it's important to get names right.
Apologies to Sarah Pedersen!

I've just emailed Woman's Hour asking them, in the interests of fairness and impartiality, to qualify any positive mentions of Stonewall with a 'some people, of course, mainly lesbians, regard Stonewall as a deeply homophobic and misofgynistic organisation'. Perhaps others might like to suggest the same.

I really think this needs tackling in an organised fashion. Only yesterday BBC News had an article about endometriosis that failed to mention the word 'woman' or 'women'. I wonder if Sara Pederson would care to develop this as her next project? She's an academic in the field.

(didn't want - daft me.)

I've just read the downloaded first part of the book. She sounds fantastic.

A real mumsnet connoisseur.

Just wanted to point out, out of respect for Sarah, that her surname is spelt Pedersen with an e. (Hope this doesn't sound nitpicky and critical, but I have a second name that is often misspelled and it jars every time - I didn't Sarah's moment to be spoiled!)

Never doubted you Nauticant, but JG did say that yesterday, "singing nuns, that's all I have at the moment".

Look forward to listening to this later.

I'll be listening to this later and have just downloaded the book from Amazon.

www.amazon.co.uk/Politicization-Mumsnet-SocietyNow-Sarah-Pedersen-ebook/dp/B086JPPXRC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1603188462&sr=1-4

No reviews yet, so get writing them, you erudite lot!

And look, LOOK, at the 'sponsored product' Amazon has chosen to link with the book! If you click on the 'i' underneath, you can tell them what you think about it

Another one here sending much appreciation to Sarah Pederson. A fantastic interview in a clear accessible style. Lots of points raised that will hopefully be engaging to lots of WH listeners. If I wasn't already on here I think I would be checking out Mumsnet after that.

I have bought the book but not yet had a chance to start it. It looks great and I have been a bit surprised by the lack of discussion about it on here (unless I've missed something?)

No, they don't have to "present the other side of the argument" everytime they mention Stonewall, exactly!

It's not like every time they mention Stonewall they preface it with "sooome people have called it homophobic..."

What a good point.

I forced myself to listen as I can no longer tolerate JG (her snippy interview with Susie McMurray, the sculptor irritated the hell out of me), but was pleased to hear that she was successfully swerved.